Page 25 - AHATA

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LOCAL Monday 25 SepteMber 2023

Aruba: the legend behind its name

(Oranjestad)—Most folk- caught up in a heavy rain how long we stay here till
loric tales and legends in storm—a side effect from a we find our family. So, if you
Aruba revolve around our passing, but far away, hur- need to take a week to
indigenous ancestors, who ricane. Of course, because gather information, we will
came from mainland Ven- of the lack of motors and wait for you."
ezuela, and discovered the sail, their boat was left in the
island and made it into their mercy of the heavy winds. "Don't worry,” Corobori re-
new home. This particular After a while, the storm plied. “As soon as we have
legend tells the story of the started to pass, and the any information, we will
birth of the Aruba name. clouds began to clear up. let you know." Armed with
Finally able to see around arrows and spears, back-
The legend follows the life them, the Cacique spot- packs filled with food and
of Arua, an indigenous Ca- ted land approximately an water containers, they set
cique originally from Aroa hour away. So, they started off. They climbed several
in the Falcon state in Ven- to row in that direction until small hills, but no sign of a
ezuela in the year 50 AD. they reached the coast. village. They crossed differ- their initial arrival settle- now passed to you. Guide
Arua had a son around ent dry riverbeds, but no ment, now known as Santo our people, and be the
the year 70 AD with his wife Once they arrived on what sign of anything. When the Largo in Savaneta. The next leader you were always
Shira, who they named they thought was Venezue- sun finally descended, they morning they hiked along meant to become. If one
Corobori. When Corobori la, they decided to stay the found themselves near a the Spaans Lagoen near day you leave my island,
was old enough, he joined night and fix their kayak. fairly tall hill and decided to the Mangel Halto Beach do not forget that it is also
his father on the usual boat The next morning, the Caci- climb it for a better view of and reached the area of yours. This is my last wish:
trip to the islands of Cura- que ordered his son and a a village. This hill was called Bushiri. There, they boarded When I die, bury me in our
cao and Bonaire to gather few warriors to go find any Pan Dushi or Orcuyo, which they kayaks and heading maize plantation.”
salt. sign of population in the today we call Hooiberg. to what we know now as
area: "Corobori,” Arua said. Malmok, where they found And so when the Cacique
On their way back to Main- “Don't come back with- The next morning, they rocks of salt. After a couple passed away, his wishes
land Venezuela, they were out news. It’s in your hands could clearly see that they days of exploring the island were granted and he was
have landed on an island, and gathering some salt laid to rest in the area we
but an unfamiliar one at rocks, they left for Venezu- now know as the Parade-
that. When Corobori went ela, where they were re- ra Cemetery. Where he
back to where his father united with their families. used to live, they built the
was waiting, he told him Paradera Church.
the news: “Father Arua, Throughout the year, they
you have just discovered travelled back and forth to And that is the tale of what
an island, but it is not Cu- Aruba, collecting salt. After inspired the Aruba name. In
racao or Bonaire. Far in a while they settled on the the generations that lived
the south, we saw the big island, generations of fami- or travelled back and forth
mountains of our home- lies living along the coast. to the island, there were
land Venezuela, which we Corobori was the first indig- many familiar names*, like
could have never seen on enous inhabitant in our his- Guadiriki, a warrior who
the other island. This leads tory to explore the entirety was there when the island
us to believe we are on a of the island. got discovered and his son,
new island. But that’s not whom he called Huliba;
all. When the sun came Arua, after decades as the Corobori and his children,
up, we saw in the distance leader of his tribe, spent Corodori, Camacuri and
a glowing plain, which we his last days on the island. Turibana, Masiduri; and
think may be salt.” Having reached 80 years Malmok, the 13-year-old
old, he called for his fam- boy who alerted the Caci-
The Cacique was pleased ily on his death bed. In his que when the Caribes at-
to hear of his son’s findings. hammock, he said: “My tacked.
He decided to stay a cou- children, many years have
ple days on the newly-dis- passed, and I’ve asked my Familiar names: all these
covered island in search for warrior to bring me back to names are familiar to Aru-
salt. The next morning they the island so I can laid to bans, as these are the
ascended Hooiberg again rest. The God of living has names of places and plants
and stayed to see if they given me the gift of life to on the island.
could find nearby smoke, see my son, grandchildren
indicating an inhabitant vil- and great grandchildren. Source: Un storia di e Indjan
lage. But they found noth- But now he is calling me Arua (A story of the Indian
ing. So they went back to home. Corobori, my torch is Arua) by Adolf (Dufi) Kock